Recently China’s dam construction on the Brahmaputra and the creation of new countries in Ladakh challenged India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Chinese Aggression Along the India-China Border
- Challenge for India: India faced two major incidents of Chinese aggression: the announcement of a dam on the Brahmaputra and the creation of new counties in Ladakh.
- India’s Response: India condemned these actions as illegal and a direct threat to its sovereignty.
- Concerns Over Hydropower Project: India expressed concerns over China’s hydropower project and is monitoring the situation to protect national interests.
- Troop Disengagement: These developments follow troop disengagement agreements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), underscoring China’s unpredictable approach.
Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes
Transboundary Water Issues
- Impact on South Asian Neighbors: China’s actions affect not only India but also South Asian countries like Nepal and Bhutan, which face territorial encroachments.
- Threat to Water Security: China’s unilateral management of transboundary rivers like the Brahmaputra and Indus threatens water security in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Pakistan.
- Risks of the Proposed Chinese Dam: The proposed Chinese dam can generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours annually but poses risks for downstream countries like India and Bangladesh.
- Environmental and Economic Impact: The dam may reduce water and silt flow, impacting agriculture, fisheries, and biodiversity in India and Bangladesh.
- Impact on Downstream Water: The dam’s construction is likely to reduce water and silt reaching downstream, severely impacting agriculture, fisheries, and biodiversity in India and Bangladesh.
- Strategic Vulnerability: Uncontrolled water release during monsoons or geopolitical tensions could lead to devastating floods along the Indian border, posing a strategic vulnerability.
- Fragile Himalayas: The Eastern Himalayas are fragile and are prone to earthquakes like the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. If an earthquake occurs this dam might create havoc for India and Nepal.
- India’s Countermeasures: In response, India has accelerated its hydropower projects, investing $1 billion to fast-track the construction of 12 hydropower stations in Arunachal Pradesh.
Border Disputes with China
- Cartographic Aggression: China has escalated its cartographic aggression by renaming locations, establishing new counties, and incorporating disputed areas into its maps.
- In Ladakh, these actions are aimed at asserting control over contested territories, while China also claims Arunachal Pradesh, which is a crucial part of India.
- China’s Escalating Tactics: China is increasingly using tactics like renaming locations, establishing settlements, and incorporating disputed regions into its maps to assert territorial claims.
- For example, in 2023, China standardised 11 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, following similar actions in 2021 and 2017.
- International Law: International law does not recognize territorial claims based solely on cartographic assertions.
- Landmark cases, like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the Minquiers and Ecrehos dispute, show that maps are insufficient to prove sovereignty.
- ICJ’s Ruling on Sovereignty: The ICJ ruled that effective administrative control and sovereignty, rather than maps, are key to determining ownership of contested territories.
- Legal Implications of China’s Actions: Although China’s cartographic aggression is provocative, it lacks legal validity under international law. However, China’s efforts to build settlements in disputed territories could complicate future matters for India.
The South Asian Response
- Economic Engagement: While China has sought economic engagement with all South Asian nations, its territorial and water-related disputes continue to strain regional relations.
- Bilateral Approaches: Unlike Southeast Asian nations, which use multilateral organisations like the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and ASEAN to address issues, South Asian countries, including India, prefer bilateral discussions with China.
- Power Asymmetry: This bilateral approach is largely influenced by the power asymmetry between China and its smaller South Asian neighbours.
Way Forward
- India’s Role : India, as the dominant regional power in South Asia, should take the lead in fostering a collective response to China’s actions.
- Need for a Unified Approach: A unified strategy, involving regional forums, multilateral institutions, and enhanced diplomatic coordination, would strengthen South Asia’s position.
- Such an approach would help address China’s growing influence and territorial ambitions in the region.
Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store
Conclusion
A comprehensive strategy involving diplomatic engagement and regional cooperation is crucial for India’s sovereignty and regional security in the face of China’s growing assertiveness.